Mail-opening machine.



C. J. BRYANT.

MAH. OPENNG 511A/GEH@EA APPLNAMON FILED APK. 17. 1911L 1,047,493. Patented Dec. 17,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEBT1- C. J. BRYANT.

MAIL OPENING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED APR. 17, w11.

Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

4 SHEETSSHBET Z.

Cx I: BRYANT.

MAIL OPENING INIACHINE` AIION YI LED APR Ii'` YJI Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

4 SHEETSWSHEET 3 J. BRYANT.

MAIL MENING MACHINE.

APPLICATION lLED APRA/11511.

Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

4 SHBETSSHEET 4.

UNITED STATES .PATENT oFF-rou CLYDE J'. BRYANT, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO JOHN P. WALLIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MAIL-OPENING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17. 1912.

To all whom 'it may concern `Be it known that I, CLYDE J. BRYANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a. new and useful Improvement in Mail-Opening Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to maA c-hines adapted for cutting or opening envelops; and my primary object is toprovide a machine which will operate to rapidly and effectively open mail matter.

It may be stated preliminarily that in t-he preferred form of the invention a rotary cutter andy motor therefor are mounted in a box or cabinet the top of which is equipped with a' guide or guides through which the envelops may be fed on edge to be operated on by the cutter. The blades of the cutter are preferably so arranged as to not only produce a shearing action on the envelops, but alsoeto create asuction into the cabinet at the cutting point, so that the fine particles of paper, as they are shearcd ott, willbe drawn into the cabinet, rather than thrown as dust into the room.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a Vertical sectional view of an envelop-cutter constructed in ac cordance with my invention, the section being taken as indicated at line l of Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a plan view of the machine; Fig. 3, a broken transverse section taken as indicated at line-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a perspective View of a plural guide employed; Fig. 5, a broken transverse vertical section taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. l, and show- `ing the manner in which the hanger which supports the motor and cutter-wheel is pivoted; Fig. 6, a broken vertical section taken as indicated at line 6 of Fig. 1 and showing the adjustability of said hanger; Fig. 7, a broken plan view of the cutter-wheel; Fig. 8, a broken edge elevational view of the cutter-wheel; Fig. 9, a perspective view of one of the blades of the cutter-wheel; Fig. l0, a. broken plan view showing a modification in which a mechanical f eed for the mail matter is provided; Fig. 11, a broken seci tional view taken as indicated at line l1 of Fig. 10; Fig. 12, a transverse section taken as indicated at line l2 of Fig. 1l; and Fig. 13, a broken lower side view of the cabinet top and guide-equipped plate employed.

ln the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. l to S) inclusive, it. comprises a body or casingA having a top A provided. with a letter-guide A2; and a motor B located in the casing A and having a slightly inclined (from. the vertical) shaft on which is mounted a cutter-wheel B having blades adapted to enter a slot with which the guide A is provided in its base portion. The casing may be of any suitable form and construction. Preferably it comprises a boxform body 1 provided in its base with a withdrawable drawer 2, and having a lid connected by hinges 3 and secured by a catch or lock 4. Ilhe top A of the casing thus constitutes the upper member of the hinged lid, and thel closure may be opened to give access to the cabinet and to litt the cutting device and motor out of the cabinet. The motor `B is preferably suspended from the top of the casing, andthe top of the casing is preferably provided throughout its length with a. longitudinal channel through which the letters may be fed. Thus, l preferably provide the top member A', which may be of wood, with a slot 5 which extends throughout the length of said member and which accommodates a metal guide plate G having a longitudinal recess 7 which extends the whole length of the plate and may be oit' any desired width, two or three inches in width ordinarily being ample. The metal member is equipped near one end with depending lugs 8 which support thc pivots 9 of a U-form hanger 10, as will be clearly understood from Pigs. lv and 5. The other arm of the hanger 10 is equipped at its upper end with a stud 11 which is received in a slot l2 ot a supporting lug 13 which dcpcnds from th plate 6. The member 13 is equipped with a set-screw 14 which extends from beneath into the slot, or opening, l2 and supports the stud l1. Thus the hanger may be adjusted to vary the relation of the cutter-wheel to the guide-member A2, according to the depth'of cut which it is desired that the wheel shall effect. The motor B is preferably an Velectric motor supported on the web of the U-form hanger l() in such manner that the shaft l5 of the motor makes a very slight, angle with thev vertical. The cnttei-wheel ll is iiiountedon the upper eiid ot the. shaft l5, so as to turn directly with the shaft. leripherally, the cutter-wheel has blades 1G which are obliquely disposed, both with reference to the Iradii of the cut ter-wheel and with reference to radial planes which pass perpen'dicularly-through the cutterwlieel. iTlius, as will be understood from Figs. 2 and 7, each blade 1G makes an angle with any correspending radius of the wheel. That Ais to say, the outer ends ot the blades are .set in adi-'ance of' the inner ends of the-blades, so that shearingi action will result in the operation of the machine. ln addition to this, the blades are non-pclrpendieularly set with referencclto the body of the wheel. That. is to say, each blade in, tliiics somewhat from a' peiiiendiculai to the. wheel-body, the cuttingr edge ot' the blade. beiner in advance ot' the base orsnpportinej edge of the blade. lach blade is preferably of the forni shown in Fig. 9, having a base` portiony 1T which is received by a slot. of compound Obliquity with which the cutter- \\.'hee.lis provided at. its periphery; aiuthaving a cutting;r portion 1S which projeets laterally from the iipperside of the peripheral portion of the wheel, as will be readily understoodfrom lhg. l. The outer, upper corner ot each blade. presents an advance point, whirh beginsthe shearing,r acti-ion'.

rthe bettom of the. depressed port-ion of tl|e`\plate (i, whichformsthe channel 7. is

recessed or cnt away cent-rally, as indicated at'l lfl. The pluralV guide A2 comprises the comparatively thin plate '20 equipped on its upper surface with a series of parallel flanges, or guide members, 2l, between which are a (toi-ded the guide spares through which the letters may be passed, while on edge. 'llie plate itl and the base portions 'of the flanges ill are recessed centrally, as indirat-ed at 22. thus atfordiiig notches adapted" to receive the rutlingportions 1S of the blades lt". lt. will be understood that the upper walls and end walls of the notches L) ril-art with the luppervand end st iearin;l edges ol' the portions IS of the blades of the cutter-wheel. Thus, as eiiv'elops are lied through the guides of the guide ineniber the. rutter-\\-'heel.I revolving at a rapid speed, will operate to sh`ear ott suer' .ive minute portions of the lower edges ot' the euvelops as the4 enrelops are passed through lluI guides. Ul' course` the. morena-nt of the' envelops thspugh the 4guides is lcontinuons. and 'as tlu` sniall bits of paper are sheared ott', they are drawn into the cabinet hv the stir-tien action of the l`an-lil e cutter blades.

'the ineniber (i, which is tr.\ns\rselv slotted at. lll to accommodate the upper porv tion of the siightly inclined eutterax'hfel, is o recessed as indicated lat *23 to ari-omino ditta-the end port-ions ofthe plate 2t! al' the guicleaneiiiber A2, so that the upper surface of the plate 20 will be flush with the bottom of the longitudinal recess or groove of the `plate G. The member is secured in posi- )25 which enables the air which is drawn into the cabinet bv the revolving cutter- ,cheaper hand-feed machine, and later, whenV increased business requires it, may obtain the interchangeable parts and add the-mechanical feed to theA machine. In Ythe moditication, a plate 6 is substituted for -the plate 6 of the previously described construction,- the plate 6 being interchangeable `Wit-h the plate C. '.lhe plate Gais provided with a longitudinal grooveer channel 7, which is relatively narrow and is formed .in 'the' de pressed'longitudinal centra-l portion of the through the plate G on one side of the guidei lgroove and have their lower ends belted or otlarwise learedto the shaft liofV the motor `l., The shafts 2G and 2Ga are equipped at their upper ends \vith rollers,

or pulleys. lti" and 2G, which co-actwvith rollers Th and 27 mounted on shafts .28v

rarried by a slide 2t) mounted in transverse lnidi-s Zh). Springs -ll are attached t0 the slidingr plate 15) and the plate G, and tend to hold the rollers 2T `and 27 in Contact with tht` companion rollers 2li and 26. The pair ot' rollers 2G and 2G are connected by a bett ISL); and the pair of rollers 27" and 27 are connected by a belt The belts 32 and 33 are thus disposed 'parallel witlreach other and with their operative' portions in contact, or substantially so. lt'will be anderstooil that letters may be fed through the `more 7, with their upper portions gripped by the belts 3Q and 33. ln other words.' the belts will feed the let-ters, while the lower portions ot the letters will depend nto the Igroove T, the low'er edges resting upon thi bottoni et the laiide-groove. The rutti-:Labret l?, which is employed in lieti ot' thrratteravlwel l', is et somewhatsuaallcr diameter; but by separating the i `follers Ztl and 27h further from the 'rollere `titl@ and 2T, the amc size cutter-wheel maj.Y he employed. 'l`he guide TPis transversely crt b v a l@lot fit which acconnuodates the blades of the cutteruvheel.

'fd'hcn desired, the plate 6 may be removed from the machine illustrated in Figs. 1 t'o t) inclusive. and the plate (3a and equipment may be substituted therefor. the eame ny tor being employed. Envelope supplied tt the belts will be automatically fed through the guide-groove T, and the edge portions` presented to the cutter will be cut away. Auitable provision may be made for introducing the envelops rapidly between the feed belts. .'Ihus, if desired one of the feed-belts may be lengthened sutliciently to enable a package of envelope to be pressed thertaigainst. so that the envelope will be ,carried singly, in rapid succession, between ttbe belts. very rapid feed may thus be `btained in the operation of the machine; o that the machine will have a very large capacity.

'lhe machine is simple of construction; eiay of operation; may be constructed at n oderatc coat; and thoroughly effective t; c itaI purpose. In operation, the small pa tit-lea ot' paper and paper-dust are drawn intt the cabinet and Settle in the box or draver Q, which is removable, to enable its contci to be en'iptied from time to time. It (leaned, the belts and 33 may be re moved, tpid the rollers may directly engage the eineiops and perform the feeding function. This is possible where the cutterwhcel i.` of comliaratively small diameter, o that tthc roller are not necessarily widely separated in a direction lengthwise of the cnvtlop guide.

Mv invtl'ttion render4 it' possible to eX- pedite imr caruu'ably the opening of mailin largal cfa tliduucnte; and, even in small t-tabliabm Lnt having a comparatively Small annaint ol` mail. thc invention may be used .cry adiattageoinly, eince the machine, in it mph form. can be upplied at a very ttrulclph want. l

Vl'bc twcgoing detailed description has laca ;gi\yn l'ot""le.|,rnc-:-: of underatanding cntj.. am uo unlue limitation should be unde: n od tthcrrt'rtuu, but the appended claims ahould blon trucd aa tro-.nity as permisA iblc in view ot' the prior art. Vl may add that vo I'a a.\ l am aware, no invention haS hcrctot'cre been produced which would serve thc pnrpofc ol' nrv invention.

lfbat l :'t-,tgard a-1 neu and desire to SC- curc b'. l.'ttcr latt-nt is t. li: a cia-chine ol. the character set forth, thtcombiimth'n ot a cabinet etpiipped externall.' with a guide through which envclcp n.;- bc ptn-cd edgewisc, said guide having a lot. in it.A base portion, and a rotary cutter-wheel having fan-like shearingbladee adapted to etfect shearing action and draw th air through said slot into the cabinet.,

ln a machine of the character eet forth, thewon'ibination of an envelop-guide having it ba e portion provided with a trans-A veree alot, a wheel provided peripherally with laterally-projecting obliquely-set, forwaidly-inclined yltearing-blades adapted to zo-act with aid slot, and n'teans for rotating Said wheel.

il. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of an envelop-guide, a cutter mounted on an inclined shaft and having lateral upwardly-projecting blades, means for rotating Said shaft, and means for varying the inclination of Said shaft.

4. ln a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a cabinet provided With a top and equipped with a guide through which envelops may be moved on edge, a hanger depending from lsaid top, a motor mounted on said hanger. and a cutter-wheel carried by the motor shaft.

5. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a cabinet equipped with a lid which may be opened, an envelopguide mounted on said lid and having in ita baae portion a transverse slot, and a revol ving cutter supported through the medium of Asaid lid and diepoeed in the cabinet beneath the lid.

G. ln a machine of the character Set forth, the combination of a cabinet having a top provided with a separable guide-equipped plate, and cutting means within Said cabinet and carried by ysaid plate.

T. YIn a machine of the character Set fort/h, the coml'iination of a cabinet having a top equipped with a separable plate and provided with a channel extending through the plate, a hanger depending from said plate, a motor mounted on said hanger, and a cut ter above said motor and actuated thereby.

S. ln a machine of the cha acter set forth, the combination of a member provided with a longitudinal channel, and an envelopguide in said channel provided with a plurality of parallel paseagee, and a rotary cut` ter beneath said member operative td remove the edge portions of the envelops fed through said guide.

.t. ln a machine of the character set forth, the combination ot' a guide-plate provided on it upper Hurtace with a channel, a guidemcinber provided with plural passages, a motor mpended beneath aaid plate, and a cutter beneath said plate and actuated by vwill motor.

ttt. ln a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a guide-plate provided on it upper .surface with a channel, a guidemcmbcr provided with a plurality ol' parallcl flangesv and having its base portion provided with a transvcrec alot, and a rotary time portion with u Slot' through which Sili'tl hhitlw4 operato, :intl :ii shCnringwhnnltlgr nsf snt'intvtl with will y lnt :intl vri-siding with nitl shtnriiig-hhitlts.

H. In :i inznhino nl the vhztrtitthr svt forth, the ('nnihinzttinn of :in tnrtlnp gnitlv '.'0nstrnttml to permit tnrvlnp to ht, totl thtrcthrough nn mlm. u Khunring-slmultltr :ismviattwl with thel lnithpnrtiun thtlrtol, :intl :i rntttfr having shanring--hhnlos trading with srzitl shoulder :intl proritltftl with nhliqimy nhttiring etlgvs having; tulwinw points which air@ tirst tu tl tlnunwlnps in thtl shtairing :lttinn.

15. In :i nmchineof they thzirnttnr .wt t'nrth, thtA cmnhinzltinn 0f nu envelop guido t n- Strnctwl to permit enreltips to he tml thereN tlirnugh on wlgt. :i Slwnring shonttlcr :IS50- tizitetl with thol htlsupnrtinn thcrhof. :intl :i rntzirr rutttrwrhtvl having: Qhcziring-hlmtus vn-m'ting with :xitl should-fr.y saiitl hhmiring hhnlw haring' nhlitint shearing' twlgfvs prt 

